U.S. Supreme Court weighs worker pay for Amazon security checks

Amazon.com's Lehigh Valley warehouse, where books, CDs and various other products are packed and shipped to customers who order from the world's largest online retailer.

Amazon.com's Lehigh Valley warehouse, where books, CDs and various other products are packed and shipped to customers who order from the world's largest online retailer. (Contributed photo, THE MORNING CALL)

Lawrence HurleyOf Reuters

The U.S. Supreme Court appeared divided on Wednesday over whether companies must pay workers for time spent undergoing security checks at the end of their shifts in a case involving an Amazon.com Inc contractor.

Employees of Integrity Staffing Solutions facilities in Nevada, where merchandise is processed and shipped, say they are forced to spend up to half an hour daily going through security screenings aimed at protecting against theft. They say they should be paid for their time and have asked for back wages and overtime pay.

During Wednesday's oral argument in the closely watched employment law case, Justice Elena Kagan indicated that the security checks are similar to the checking-out process bank tellers and cashiers have to go through at the end of their shifts. Workers would likely be paid in those scenarios, she said.

“What's the difference between that … and going through security at Amazon'” Kagan asked. Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court's frequent swing vote, followed up with a similar line of questioning.

Other justices on the conservative wing sounded more sympathetic to the employer, saying the screening process was not a key part of the employees' jobs and therefore was not subject to compensation.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear a case that will decide whether Amazon.com workers should be compensated for time spent waiting to clear security checks.

Though the case revolves around an Amazon warehouse in Nevada, a ruling from the high court could apply to companies and their workers...

In April, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the screenings were an integral part of the warehousing job done for the benefit of the employer and should be compensated under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.